Remembrance Day 2024

All employees are invited to join in Remembrance Day commemorations on Monday 11 November with a two minute silence at 11am. Remembrance Day, which takes place annually, recognises the signing of the Armistice that marked the end of World War One and offers an opportunity to reflect on those whose lives have been, and continue to be, touched by war.

If you are hosting an event or meeting during this time, please bear in mind that attendees may wish to participate. If appropriate to the nature of your meeting, you may pause the meeting to participate in the two minute’s silence at 11am.

Staff who are members of the Armed Forces Community can additionally choose to wear their military insignia that day as appropriate to their role to raise awareness of the moment in time, but also to enable wider conversation amongst staff about the Armed Forces and service.

East Lothian Provost and the council’s Armed Forces Champion Councillor John McMillan is holding an informal reception for employees who are members of the Armed Forces community to meet and observe the silence together. If you or a colleague has service experience, including as a reservist or veteran, please email armedforcesemployeenetwork@eastlothian.gov.uk for further information.

In real life 

We can't rewind 
We can't fast forward 
But we can pause 
Breathe 
Reflect 

Imagine never knowing what to expect, 
Or when you'll next see your relatives again. 
Imagine feeling uprooted, uncertain,  unstable, 
Longing to sit with your loved ones at the dinner table

No promise of a return to normal 
Imagine these fears lasting for years 
This is life 
For those on the frontline 
Not just back then. It's happening today. 

Their sacrifices help to keep us all safe

So that's why we pause. And say... 
Thank you. 

This November 
We'll stand together 
Like we do every year. 
A chorus of thunderous silence 
Two minutes to remind us 
Of those who look fear in the eye 
And say 
No. I choose hope 

A soft song that grows 
Listen carefully, 
Can you hear it inside your home? 
A quiet belief in something better 
It brings us together 
It lives in the hearts of those who serve 

On testing sites 
And posts overseas 
In every message and picture sent to families 

The hope for a better future 
Let's take just two minutes to pause,  
And remember. 

Mountain bikes and guitar donations needed

East Lothian Council Throughcare and Aftercare Team is seeking donations of adult size mountain bikes and guitars.

The bikes will help young people travel to and from work and college, visit friends, get to football practice and improve their fitness. Lights and pumps and bike locks are also really appreciated   If you have an unused guitar you would like to donate, the team will pass it on to one of their young people. You may be instrumental in creating the next Mercury Music Award winner!

The team provide support to young people aged 16 to 26 who have been in foster care or residential care or who have arrived unaccompanied in Scotland and require support.

Workers support young people across East Lothian and other regions. The team uses a local bike mechanic to check over donated bikes and fit new parts where necessary.

Please contact : UASC (Unaccompanied and Asylum Seeking Children’s) Throughcare and Aftercare Worker Annie Landsburgh alandsburgh@eastlothian.gov.uk 07929838038 (Monday – Thursday)

Annie will then be able to arrange collection. Many thanks!

Armed Forces Employee Network

As part of the council’s Armed Forces Covenant work, an Armed Forces Covenant Employee Network group is being formed which will be led by employees who are members of the Armed Forces Community. Contacts for the emerging group are: 

• Brian Cunningham – HR, Ex RN and a Listening Ear
• Holly Macdonald – Protective Services
• Sheila Fitzpatrick – Council Resources
• Phil Hope – HR, Ex Army

The Council’s AFC Employee Network look to engage with those employees who are members of the Armed Forces Community to provide mutual support, advice, and information. The network is looking to arrange events on occasions such Remembrance Day and Armed Forces Day where the Armed Forces Community can meet up. 

If you are interested in participating in this developing AFC Employee Network, please email the dedicated inbox (armedforcesemployeenetwork@eastlothian,gov.uk), providing your name and contact details, ideally your phone/mobile number and an e-mail address that you are happy to be contacted on. Your details will be held securely by the group and only used for the purposes of contacting you about the AFC Employee Network.

Schools serve up healthy Halloween menu

In East Lothian, the primary school catering teams enjoy transforming lunchtime into memorable experiences for children going above and beyond to ensure that every meal is not only nutritious but also exciting and enjoyable.

The catering teams at Campie, Windygoul, Ormiston, and St. Martins primary schools pulled out all the stops to create a healthy Halloween lunchtime experience. Themed decorations adorned the dining areas, and the menus featured spooky yet nutritious options.

Parents and teachers have praised the catering teams for their dedication and creativity. By making lunchtimes special, they are fostering a positive relationship between children and healthy eating, which can have lasting benefits.

Planning Committee approves electricity substation near Dunbar

Planning Committee met on Tuesday 5 November and granted consent for an SP Energy Networks electricity substation at Branxton, south of Dunbar. 

The proposal also included temporary construction compounds and an access road. A pre application consultation had been carried out by the applicant, which included two public information events. 

A total of 62 written representations had been received to the application, including 61 objections. Some of the grounds for objection included that the surrounding area is bearing an unfair proportion of renewable energy developments; loss of amenity through noise, dust and vibration from both construction and operation of the development; light pollution; and construction traffic posing a danger to other road users. 

Following a debate, committee members were unanimous in approving the application with additional conditions that the developer liaise with other developers on surrounding sites in a bid to enhance biodiversity interventions and that regular liaison with local residents and the community council take place to minimise any disruption caused by construction traffic on this site and others in the area. 

Members also agreed to write to Scottish Ministers for more consideration to be given to the cumulative effect of renewable energy infrastructure in East Lothian. 

Two applications from Bellway Homes, one for 103 new homes on land to the north of Castlehill, Elphinstone, and the other for a footpath linking this development to Waterloo Place, were continued to a future Planning Committee meeting. The continuation was proposed by Councillor McGinn and seconded by Councillor Hampshire due to local concerns around difficulties in connecting the existing Bellway development at Castlehill to the local sewer network. There were also concerns about localised flooding and the potential location of the proposed connecting footpath. The continuation would be so that council officers could continue liaising with the developer and other agencies around a solution to the sewer connection problems and other issues. 

Committee heard that there was a chance the developer may appeal to the Scottish Government over East Lothian Council’s non-determination of the applications within agreed timescales. Members voted unanimously to delegate the writing of a submission to Scottish Ministers in the event of such an appeal, to the council’s Chief Planning Officer. The motion was proposed by Councillor Hampshire and seconded by Councillor Forrest. 

The relevant application numbers are; Branxton, 23/00616/PM and Elphinstone, 24/00699/P and 23/01333/PM.

Festive pay dates

Please note the following early payment dates for December 2024 and January 2025 salaries and wages.

While every effort will be made to ensure payment, employees and managers should ensure that all claim forms are submitted by the dates below. Claims which arrive after these dates cannot be guaranteed for payment given the reduced working days.

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Weekly Pay

Pay date 19 December 2024 - 3 weeks normal pay.

To ensure this is an accurate payment all relevant information must be with Payroll Section on or before Tuesday 10 December 2024. Detailed below are the dates by which weekly timesheets must be submitted

Date of Submission	Timesheets Required	Payment Date
10/12/2024	Actual hours for week ending 08/12/2024 (+ 2 weeks basic hours no timesheets required)	19/12/2024
17/12/2024	Actual hours for week ending 15/12/2024	09/01/2025
07/01/2025	Actual hours for week ending 22/12/2024 Plus amendments only for w/e 29/12/2024 and 05/01/2025	16/01/2025

Note – any overtime worked over New Year will be included in your pay on 16/01/2024

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4 Weekly Pay

Pay date Thursday 28 November 2024 - Normal payment, no amendment required

Next Pay date due Thursday 26 December 2024 will be paid early on Monday 23 December 2024

To ensure an accurate payment all relevant information must be with Payroll Section on or before Tuesday 10 December 2024

Next pay date 23 January 2025.

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Monthly Salary (including Permanent Teachers/Casual and Supply claims)

Pay dates Friday 20 December 2024 and Tuesday 28 January 2025.

To ensure accurate payment all relevant information must be with Payroll Section on or before Monday 2 December 2024 and Monday 6 January 2024 respectively.

Please email payrollforms@eastlothian.gov.uk if you have any queries about these deadlines.

East Lothian Council achieves Living Wage accreditation

East Lothian Council has achieved Living Wage accreditation to reflect its commitment to fair work and reducing in-work poverty for its own staff and contractors it uses. The announcement came during Living Wage Week 2024. 

The Living Wage Foundation offers accreditation to employers who go further than the government minimum wage to ensure that wages reflect the cost of living. The Living Wage rates are calculated by the Resolution Foundation annually based on an analysis of the wage that employees need to earn to afford a decent standard of living. This includes housing, childcare, transport and heating costs. Organisations must pay all directly employed staff the real living wage and make sure that regularly contracted employees receive the rate during the hours they work for the council. 

The real Living Wage rose from £12 per hour to £12.60 per hour on 23 October and accredited employers have six months to implement the rate. The council currently pays £12.56 and will implement the real Living Wage by May 2025. In comparison, the hourly national minimum wage is £11.44 (due to rise to £12.21 from 1 April 2025 following last week’s budget announcement). 

East Lothian Council Leader Councillor Norman Hampshire said: “Reducing poverty and inequality is a key focus in our council plan. The real living wage reflects the costs for the basics that we all need and deserve. It cannot be right that, in this day and age, people find themselves in work but also in poverty because their wages haven’t kept pace with the cost of living. It aims to tackle this situation by offering a fair wage for fair work.” 

As well as committing to pay its own staff and contractors the real Living Wage, it is also using its position as a major purchaser of goods and services to benefit the wider economy. The authority spends approximately £140 million every year on goods, services and works, which represents a substantial opportunity to deliver additional social, environmental and economic benefits to East Lothian through its procurement processes. This includes checking whether accredited suppliers are already an accredited living wage employers of it they would commit to paying the real living wage to their employees during the lifetime of their council contract. 

Councillor Hampshire added: “While the real Living Wage undoubtedly benefits council staff who already receive it as a minimum, we are using our position as a major consumer of services in East Lothian to ensure these benefits are felt in other workplaces too. We want contractors or contract workers undertaking roles on council projects or on behalf of the council, including care staff, to also receive the real Living Wage. This will contribute to achieving our vision for an even more prosperous, safe and sustainable East Lothian, with a dynamic and thriving economy that enables our people and communities to flourish.” 

Lynn Anderson, Living Wage Scotland Manager said: “We’re delighted that East Lothian Council has become an accredited Living Wage employer. They join a growing movement of over 3750 employers in Scotland who together want to ensure workers have what they need. 

“Our Living Wage employer network includes well known organisations such as SSE plc, ENABLE Scotland and the University of Strathclyde as well as lots of smaller employers and we hope to see many more follow their example.”

 

Council agrees to draw up plans for potential visitor levy in East Lothian

In the future, visitors to East Lothian could be charged a small fee as part of their accommodation costs, which would be used to invest in facilities and services used by visitors, as East Lothian Council agreed to draw up plans for a potential Visitor Levy Scheme. 

The Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 was passed by the Scottish Parliament in May 2024, giving local authorities in Scotland the power to introduce a percentage rate charge on overnight accommodation, including caravan parks, camping sites and self-catering accommodation. The rate would be set by each individual local authority. 

At a full meeting of East Lothian Council on Tuesday 29 October it was agreed that a scheme for East Lothian should be developed in consultation with residents, businesses, and other key stakeholders. 

Councillor John McMillan, East Lothian Council spokesperson for Economic Development and Tourism, said: “Tourism and the visitor economy is highly important to East Lothian and supports thousands of jobs in the county. Visitors come from across the UK and around the world to enjoy our unique area, the quality of our environment and the range of cultural and sporting activities. 

“We are in the processing of compiling our most recent visitor survey and responses to the question about a potential levy have been very positive so far. Sixty-two per cent of respondents said they would support a visitor levy and that figure rose to 76 per cent support when they were told the money raised would be used to improve services, infrastructure and facilities that would benefit visitors to East Lothian. 

“A small initial survey of our business community showed an almost 50/50 split between those opposed and those in support, so it will be very important to us to develop the proposal in consultation with these stakeholders. This levy could be an effective way to improve facilities and services used by visitors and local people alike and lift some of the burden on the public purse, but we also want to get it right, of course, so working collaboratively will be a key element in shaping the proposal.” 

The first stage in designing a proposal will involve engagement, development, and financial modelling, which is expected to take around a year, with a completed draft levy proposal brought back to Council for review and approval prior to full consultation in winter 2025. 

If approved, implementation could begin in spring 2026, with a statutory 18 month minimum period from that point before charging of a levy could start. More information about the Visitor Levy Scheme is on the council website.

 

Plans underway for housing at former Wallyford Primary School site

East Lothian Council has lodged a Pre-Application Notice (PAN) for the masterplan to redevelop the former Wallyford Primary School. As part of the planning process, a three-month public consultation will be carried out. 

Located on the former Wallyford primary school grounds, off Salters Road, plans for the site include 60 properties for social rent including six wheelchair accessible flats. 

The project is part of a collaborative programme to deliver net zero ready affordable housing. East Lothian Council is working with other local authorities across the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal area to deliver 140 homes using an innovative model developed by the Edinburgh Home Demonstrator and now being implemented by the Regional Delivery Alliance. It includes increased offsite construction which contributes to increased sustainability and health and safety as well as reduced build time on site.  You can find out more about the model and delivery partners via the Edinburgh Home Demonstrator website.   

All views collected or submitted during the consultation will be considered prior to a planning application in principle being lodged. At that point, interested parties will again have the opportunity to comment via the planning process. 

A two-stage consultation process is taking place over October and November 2024. This will allow members of the public to attend a drop in presentation and meet Housing Services and the architects involved in the project. 

Stage One involved a drop in presentation held at Wallyford Learning Campus on Tuesday 29 October. 

Stage two will allow members of the public an opportunity to hear how the Stage One consultation responses and comments have been considered by the council and allow an opportunity for further comments in advance of the planning application in principle being lodged.

• Tuesday 19 November 3.45-8pm, Wallyford Learning Campus - Main Assembly Hall – entrance via the Leisure Entrance from the north car park.

 The event is drop-in and attendees do not need to register their attendance in advance and will not need to attend for the full four hours.

 Responses can be submitted at the drop-in events or can be emailed to the Housing Strategy & Development Team or in writing to the team at: 

Former Wallyford Primary School Consultation

Housing Strategy & Development Team

East Lothian Council - Penston House

Macmerry Industrial Estate

Macmerry

EH33 1EX

For more information on the South East Scotland City Region Deal, visit the website.

Community group funding applications invited

Applications are now being invited for a fund that supports local community groups, charities and third sector organisations with revenue grant funding.

 The One Council Partnership Fund (OCPF) supports activities to help reduce inequalities and make East Lothian a better place to live. The focus of the funding awards for 2025/26 will be to support initiatives and activities which help community-based organisations to:

 Addressing inequalities, and the impact of poverty including health inequalities

• Reducing social isolation for vulnerable children, young people and adults
• Supporting prevention and early intervention activities across all age groups
• Provide more youth work opportunities for children and young people   
• Respond to the climate emergency
• Promote volunteering

The One Council Partnership Fund issued grants totalling over £1m for 2024/25. Projects funded included MYPAS for its weekly one-to-one support for LGBT+ young people, the Pennypit Community Development Trust’s lunch clubs for local families during the school holidays and Time for Tea project to reduce social isolation, and the New Beginnings Club who provided social and leisure events for their members with physical and learning difficulties to promote positive mental health.

Applicants should reference how their project meets the council plan’s strategic priorities and the East Lothian Plan 2017-2027 and show how they will evidence local need and the positive difference the funding will make. They will also be expected to demonstrate other funding sources they have explored to maximise inward investment through alternative funding opportunities.

Applications are invited from Monday 4 November until Friday 2 December; decision letters will be issued in March 2025 following confirmation of the Council’s approved budget for financial year 2025/26. Find out more: www.eastlothian.gov.uk/one-council-fund

Book Week Scotland 18 to 24 November

East Lothian Libraries Libraries have an interesting and engaging programme planned for the 13th annual Book Week Scotland.

Designed to appeal to a range of age groups, it will take place a a range of venues from 18 to 24 November

This year's theme celebrates and embraces hope. It includes titles for all ages, abilities and interests - from the highly illustrated Bright New World: How to make a Happy Planet which aims to empower young children to be informed about climate change, to Resist, set in occupied Netherlands during the second World War and inspired by the childhood of actress Audrey Hepburn. Matthew Syed's Dare to Be You is a non-fiction read for secondary aged pupils focused on the importance of dreams and ambitions, while Tomorrow is Beautiful sees author Sarah Crossan bring together a collection of poems to 'comfort, uplift and delight' readers of all ages.

Find a full list of hopeful books for Book Week Scotland 2024

• most events are free
• booking is required - please read the event information here for booking information

Information drop-in at Port Seton Centre

Port Seton Centre will be hosting an information drop in on 11 December from 12pm until 2pm. Partners attending to support and provide information to those in the community include:

• Social Security Scotland
• Circle
• Climate Change Hub
• Sure Start
• Enable Works
• Citizen Advice Bureau
• East Lothian Council’s early years’ service.

The event has been planned to offer the community can access support locally on issues that are important to them. This drop in is free for anyone to attend and confidential spaces are provided if required.

East Lothian Council is working in partnership with various partners including NHS to explore more locally-based drop-ins across East Lothian. Community Development Officer Jordan Irvine commented: “Port Seton Centre has already been running a monthly drop in on Thursdays with Social Security Scotland which has highlighted the need for services to be accessible within local communities. We’re hoping to replicate this in other areas of the county.”

What's on at The Brunton

The Brunton invites you to immerse yourself in a dazzling array of performances that capture the magic of the season. Get ready to be swept away by a line-up of spectacular shows that promise to warm your heart and ignite your holiday spirit. The Brunton’s winter programme is brimming with excitement and joy, offering the perfect escape to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year.

The beautiful Northesk Parish Church will be hosting Timothy Orpen and Scott Mitchell as part of a series of recitals from the wonderful players at Royal Scottish National Orchestra. The audience can expect pieces by Mozart, Brhams, Debussy, and Giampieri. The Virtuoso Clarinet: Timothy Orpen and Scott Mitchell, Wednesday 20 November at 7:30pm.

Also at Northesk Parish Church, The Brunton will be welcoming the Royal Northern Sinfonia, where you can expect to hear the orchestra’s signature blend of classical chart-toppers and lesser-known gems. Playing a selection of beautiful, atmospheric pieces carefully chosen to make you feel warm from the inside out, Christmas by Candlelight with Royal Northern Sinfonia is on Sunday 01 December at 7:00pm.

The Brunton are ecstatic to be holding a concert with world renowned Scottish fiddler, Alasdair Fraser, and brilliant Californian cellist, Natalie Haas. Together, the duo blend a profound understanding of Scottish tradition with cutting-edge string explorations. Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas will be playing at Northesk Parish Church on Friday 06 December at 7:30pm.

Down the road at Loretto Theatre this festive season, The Brunton welcomes Hambledon Productions as they recreate three ‘lost’ episodes from Hancock’s Half Hour. Missing from the BBC archives, this UK tour will mark the very first time these hilarious scripts have been brought to life since their original broadcast.

Don’t miss your chance to watch the timeless comedy of Hancock’s Half Hour - The Lost TV Episodes on Saturday 23 November at 7:30pm.

The holiday season continues with André Rieu’s 2024 Christmas Concert: Gold and Silver on Saturday 07 December at 7:00pm at Loretto Theatre. Get ready to be transported to the wondrous world of enchanting glamour that is André’s winter wonderland! Don’t miss this chance to celebrate music, love, and Christmas sparkle!

The Countdown to The Brunton Pantomime is on!

In collaboration with acclaimed theatre company, Wonder Fools, A Christmas Carol is an exciting new pantomime, with original songs, inspired by Charles Dickens’ classic Christmas Story and set in East Lothian.

A warm-hearted festive treat for all ages!

A Christmas Carol, Corn Exchange Haddington, Friday 06 - Saturday 14 December at 1:30pm / 5:00pm / 7:00pm

A Christmas Carol, Loretto Theatre Musselburgh, Wednesday 18 December - Saturday 04 January at 1:30pm / 5:00pm / 7:30pm

Number Confidence Week

Number Confidence Week 2024 takes place from 4 to 8 November.

This year's theme tackles the link between gender and number confidence.

National Numeracy, the organisation behind Number Confidence Week, states that, despite having similar skill levels, women show much lower confidence levels with maths than men which can have significant impacts on their life. Lacking number confidence makes things more challenging – whether it's managing bills, following medical advice, or advancing in a workplace. The result can lead to debt, anxiety, and missed career opportunities.

And it's not just women – these attitudes hurt everyone, including men who face pressures that prevent them from seeking support.

Number Confidence Week, 4 to 8 November, seeks to change that by empowering people to build their confidence and unlock new opportunities.

 

If you would like to improve your confidence with numbers East Lothian Works has many options available. The team can provide individual support, learning in small groups, budgeting sessions, cooking with numbers or courses designed to help you gain a qualification.

You can

Get in touch to find out more – email elworks@eastlothian.gov.uk or call 01620 827262.

To find out more visit - https://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/eastlothianworks

16 Days of Activism - online briefing events

16 Days of Activism is a global campaign to raise awareness about violence against women and girls. 

It runs from 25 November, which is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, to 10 December, which is Human Rights Day. These dates were specifically chosen to emphasise that VAWG is a violation of human rights.

Upcoming events

Why do we need to reframe masculinity?

• Monday, 25 November  2-3.30pm
• MS Teams :  Click here to join

Gender norms place expectations on men and boys to meet unhealthy and impossible standards of masculinity, which are linked to their experiences of mental health problems, disproportionate suicide rates, drug-related deaths and risk of violence. Research with young boys is finding that many young people are struggling to define what it means to be a ‘positive’ male.

David Russell, Development Lead with Thriving Survivors will speak about the current perceptions of masculinity, links to the ‘Incel’ sub-culture and messages society gives boys and young men. This input will outline what needs to be done to tackle widespread misogyny in current UK culture and the importance of reframing masculinity in tackling violence against women and children. 

Learning Review - the case of Ms L.

• Tuesday, 26 November 2-3pm
  
• MS Teams : Click here to join

Learning from cases where children and adults have been significantly harmed, put at risk of harm or have died is a vital part of an effective and improving system to protect children and adults. Reflecting on learning helps us identify good practice in protection work, and the improvements needed to help protect children and adults in the future.

This briefing will focus on the findings from the Ms L Significant Case Review commissioned by the Dundee Adult Support and Protection Committee and published in November 2023. Ms L was a woman who moved to Scotland from England in an attempt to leave an abusive relationship. Ms L had a complex history of domestic abuse, homelessness, substance use, mental health issues, chronic physical health issues and isolation from family/friends. We will consider the findings from the review as well as the implications for practice from local reviews.

Commercial Sexual Exploitation

• Wednesday, 27 November 2-3pm
• MS Teams: Click here to join

Join our online briefing event to hear Linda Thompson, National Co-ordinator, Women’s Support Project talk about Commercial Sexual Exploitation – learn more about what it is, how people are impacted from it and why it is a form of violence against women and girls.

Online Briefing Marac

• Tuesday, 3 December 3-4pm
• MS Teams : Click here to join

Marac (Multi-agency Risk Assessment Conference) meetings address high risk cases of domestic abuse. In this briefing Jayne Duncan, Marac Co-ordinator will tell you how they operate in East Lothian and Midlothian - who is involved, how risk assessments are carried out and safety plans are developed at the meeting.

Meet Mikey!

This year for Youth Work Week 2024, Musselburgh Grammar School pupil Ailsa Rose interviewed youth worker Mikey McKinnon to find out all about his role and why reputation in the community is so important

Mikey McKinnon has been working with North Berwick Youth Project since February 2023 and, as of August 2024, got the full time post as a specialist youth worker. 

Mikey was originally a swim coach before he got involved with youth work. When asked why he made the decision to switch he said he’d always “really enjoyed working with young people.” and was keen to move into a role that offered more variety. He then further explained “I thought, ‘can I transfer my skills into working - still working with young people but in a different environment?’” He found his desire for change and freedom when he started out doing the sessional youth work at North Berwick Youth Project.  

“It impacts everybody”

When asked who youth work impacts, Mikey instantly replied: “It impacts everybody…all our communities.” Youth work is there to help young people with “whatever needs there are: family issues, anything.” It comes in many forms, whether that be 1-2-1 support, clubs or groups, and its aim is to be as open and accessible for everyone. Mikey added that youth work allows young people to “let them see that their communities are good, but also let the communities see that young people have something to give as well, because they all do. Every young person does.” Youth work provides young people with the opportunities they need to thrive and flourish whilst building up confidence and social skills. It is centred around the trust developed between the young individual and the youth worker and, in turn, establishes a bond between the young person and their community. Mikey states that youth work is so important because its purpose is “to help them. At the end of the day, that’s the nuts and bolts of it…to help these young people achieve.” Smiling, he adds “and be, I know it sounds a bit corny, but the best person that they can actually be.” 

Working with young people

Working with young people can be a challenge. We all have bad days which can impact our mood, so Mikey’s ethos is that he aims to “go and make that young person's day a bit better.” He highlights that: “When you see it happening…they smile, they laugh, they open up a bit - that’s the best part for me.” Working with young people and getting to know them can be an amazing experience. 

Accessing Youth Work

Youth work operates within communities and schools. Although social media does play an important role in spreading information, Mikey stresses that “word of mouth’s a huge thing as well.” It is most common for a pupil to be referred to youth work by a guidance teacher but that doesn’t have to be the case. You can also find more details for groups or sessions online as well as from other people in your community or school. Having a good reputation means that a youth work organisation can reach those who need the service. Mikey explains that “people telling somebody that they love it…it’s like gold dust…reputation in the community is huge.”

Find out more about the power of youth work from Youth Link Scotland.

Lauren Shines in CIPFA Studies

Lauren Ritchie, a Trainee Accountant in East Lothian Council’s Finance Department, has achieved remarkable success in her CIPFA accountancy qualification. Lauren secured the highest marks in Scotland for the subjects of Corporate Governance and Law & Taxation over the past year.

In recognition of her outstanding performance, Lauren will be honoured at the CIPFA in Scotland Prize Giving Ceremony, which will take place at Glasgow City Chambers on Friday, 15 November 2024.

"Significant achievement"

David Henderson, Service Manager – Service Accounting, praised Lauren’s dedication and achievements: “Lauren has been a terrific student since starting her CIPFA studies, and these two awards are a great credit to her. It is also a significant achievement for the council to see one of our own honoured in this way, again vindicating our ‘grow our own’ approach. The whole team is delighted for her.”

Lauren expressed her gratitude and enthusiasm for her studies and the support she received from her colleagues: “I’ve really enjoyed getting back into studying again and having the practical application of this through working within our team. It has been great working with all my Finance colleagues and managers across the Council, and I’d like to thank everyone for sharing their experience to deepen my understanding, which has helped build my confidence!

"Receiving the awards from CIPFA has been amazing, and I’m so grateful for the recognition of all those hours of studying.”

Make a difference for climate change!

Our Sustainability and Climate Change Officer, Cheyne Hamm is consulting on the ELC’s Climate Change Strategy 2025 – 2030. He is holding drop-in workshops for council staff to give their feedback on how the council is tackling climate change and how the climate affects our work. Staff can also attend the workshops online by following the Teams link.

There are four drop-in sessions which cover the four themes of the Climate Change Strategy.

Governance

• Friday, 8 November from 9am-5pm in John Muir House Meeting Room G2
• Topics: Leadership, Adaptation Capability, Carbon Literacy, Resources, Procurement
• Microsoft Teams link

Assets

• Monday, 11 November from 9am-5pm in Penston House Garleton Room B
• Topics: Buildings, Transport & Vehicles
• Microsoft Teams link 

Services

• Thursday, 14 November from 9am-5pm in John Muir House Meeting Room G2
• Topics: Education & Training, Waste, Libraries, Parks and Sports, Planning, Care
• Microsoft Teams link

Place

• Monday, 2 December from 9am-5pm in Penston House Garleton Room B
• Topics: Communities, Commuting, Green & Blue Networks, Economy, Homes
• Microsoft Teams link 

All staff are welcome to join online or in-person and encouraged to share their views. Anyone can also share their views online at https://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/climate-strategy-consultation, following the QR code below or at in-person events detailed on that page.

Contact Cheyne at chamm@eastlothian.gov.uk if you have any questions or would like further details.

A Ranger writes

Seals are a common sight around our coastline and come in two distinct species – the grey seal and the common (or harbour) seal. Despite the names, in this part of the world the grey seal is actually the more common of the two species and is much more likely to be seen in our harbours.

Between October and December thousands of grey seals give birth on the Isle of May (the fourth largest UK breeding colony). At birth, the pups weigh around 13 kg and are covered in white fur. For the first three weeks of the pup’s life it is dependent on its mother’s milk, which is high in fat content. During this time the young seal’s weight can quadruple. After weaning, the pup will need these fat reserves to see it through until it takes to the sea and starts to fend for itself.

Occasionally, grey seal pups will be washed up on the shore, particularly after spells of strong northerly winds. If you come across one of these it is important not to approach too close. The pups may look cute, but have very unpleasant teeth and will bite, no matter how helpful you are trying to be. A beached youngster will often simply be worn out and having a rest, under the watchful eye of its mother, who will be waiting offshore. Any approach from humans, especially with dogs, will simply cause unnecessary stress.

Adult grey seals can be big, with males weighing up to 230 kg – by comparison the average bloke in the UK weighs about 87 kg. Underwater, this large size doesn’t hinder them and they can be positively graceful, but on land the term “lumbering” springs to mind. Incidentally, the scientific name for the grey seal is Halichoerus grypus, which means “hooked-nosed sea pig”. Not the most flattering of names, but it does paint a picture.

Common seals are considerably smaller – the largest males might manage a puny 150kg. Females give birth to a single pup in summer and these pups are much more self-reliant than their grey counterparts. They are able to swim after just a few hours, although they will be dependent on their mother’s milk for three or four weeks. Common seals often haul out onto rocks, to rest up or suckle their young. They often assume a characteristic position with the head and tail curved up higher than the body. Morrison’s Haven, near Prestonpans, is a good place to see this behaviour.

The two species can be told apart relatively easily, at least once you’ve got your eye in for the differences. Common seals have rounded heads while greys have long “roman” noses. If it helps, you can think of common seals as looking like reasonably cute dogs and greys as being a bit more horsey. Or something like that. The nostrils are also slightly different, being V-shaped in common seals, but almost parallel in grey seals. However, getting close enough to a seal to get a good look at its nostrils is not recommended – maybe try binoculars for this.

Share your views on the future of health and social care services

Over the last 12 months, ELHSCP has been engaging with local communities, providers, and staff to identify, develop and prioritise suggestions that could support the delivery of older people’s services for generations to come. 

We are currently in the middle of our 12-week engagement and consultation period, and we want to hear from you!

Background information 

We recommend downloading the background engagement document which provides information on the wider context of the Planning Older People's Services project and information gathering, analysis and engagement process to date.

Your feedback 

Having read the background information, we would like to here your comments on the four identified priorities: 

Priority 1: Review palliative and end of life care
This priority indicates a request to review and enhance the options available within palliative care, so people can plan and consider their preferences for living with their long-term health condition and / or end-of-life care and treatment.

Priority 2: Polypharmacy reviews 
Polypharmacy basically means 'many medicines'.  Polypharmacy review, involves specialist teams reviewing an individual's medication to make sure they are taking the right medicine, or the right reasons.   This priority indicates an opportunity for a more coordinated approach to polypharmacy reviews undertaken in East Lothian.  An ‘invest to save’ approach could see an increase in polypharmacy reviews aiming to reduce potential harm from medicines in older patients, improving quality of life, reducing medicines burden for patients, reducing avoidable hospital admissions, and ensuring medicines are used cost effectively across East Lothian.

Priority 3: Intermediate Care Services
Intermediate Care Services covers a wide range of services that either helps to prevent hospital admissions, or a service that supports a person to return home from hospital, an illness or injury. 
This priority provides an opportunity to remain committed to developing intermediate care services to facilitate care closer to home and ensure that East Lothian’s population can remain within their own communities for as long as possible. Provision of efficient and effective intermediate care is also vital to alleviate pressure on hospital and care home beds.

Priority 4: Use of technology
We all use technology in our daily lives.  This priority identifies an opportunity for enhancing the use of technology and increasing digital choice in order to support the development of efficient and sustainable services for older people, that are agile and responsive to the changing needs of the East Lothian population.

How to get involved

ELHSCP is looking to engage with a wide range of people, who have an interest in or may be directly affected by the delivery of older people’s services in the future. This includes people currently making use of our services, their family members and/or carers, health and social care staff, community groups, third sector organisations, providers, partner organisations and the public who live and work in East Lothian and may require access to older people’s services in the future.

Complete the online survey:  www.eastlothian.gov.uk/pops-consultation
From the website you can review the identified priorities in more detail and make comments on the engagement process to date, which is outlined in a presentation document.

Send your feedback via email: engagement-hscp@eastlothian.gov.uk 
You can also send your comments to us directly by using the email address above.

Further information

You can find further information, progress reports and community updates on our dedicated webpages: www.eastlothian.gov.uk/elhscp/pops

Children’s Strategic Partnership Celebrates 10th Anniversary

The East Lothian Children’s Strategic Partnership (CSP) celebrated its 10th anniversary this summer, marking a decade of collaborative work to safeguard and support children and young people in the county.

The CSP has made many notable achievements over the past decade, including the development of the Whole Family Support initiative that focuses on early intervention, prevention and family resilience. By offering holistic resources and support, the initiative ensures families receive the right help at the right time, improving outcomes for children and parents.

It also developed a Young Carers Service in 2021, that has expanded support for young people with caring responsibilities, offering respite, school assistance, and access to mental health resources for around 600 young people.

This milestone coincides with a recent joint inspection of services to protect children and young people at risk of harm, where the partnership was rated as 'very good.' Conducted between October 2023 and April 2024, the joint inspection assessed how effectively East Lothian’s multi-agency partnership— including the council, health services, police, and third-sector organisations—supports vulnerable children. It concluded that children and young people were safer as a result of the Partnership’s work.

Inspectors commended the partnership's work in significantly improving safety for children and young people, citing positive inter-agency collaboration and strong staff relationships with those at risk. The Single Point of Access (SPA) for Mental Health Support was highlighted as a particularly effective resource in addressing mental health needs and reducing the burden on higher-tier services.

In expressing her gratitude to all partners for their support in the CSP.

Lesley Brown, Chair of the Children’s Strategic Partnership, said: “It is a privilege to be the Chair of the CSP and I am delighted with the progress we have made and the recognition of our work from our recent joint inspection. There really is no greater achievement than to be improving the lives of children and young people. I look forward to continuing to work with partners to ensure their voices guide our work to improve outcomes across East Lothian.”

Pre-retirement course (pensions)

Online course 2 December 1:00-3:30pm

Financial education specialists ‘Affinity Connect’ would like to personally invite you to attend an interactive 2 hour and 30 minute online course around the key aspects of planning for a financially secure future. The company specialises in retirement in the public sector..

Retirement might be up to 10 years away but it’s never too soon to start planning. This course is perfect for anyone thinking about retirement or already at the planning stages.

During the course you’ll learn how to:

• Help you plan for the lifestyle changes ahead
• Maximise the benefits of your State and workplace pensions
• Make the most of your tax-free cash
• Understand the income options available from your pension
• Achieve your retirement goals

Don't miss out, spaces are limited! Please click here to book your place. 

To find out what’s included in this course in more detail, please click here to view the agenda.

We hope you take advantage of this opportunity. Should you have any queries regarding your booking please contact us by either calling 0800 019 6076 or by emailing bookings@affinityconnect.org.

Find out about the HSF Health Plan

Did you know that ELC employees can join a health cash plan, offering an affordable way to help cover the cost of everyday healthcare for you and your family?

To learn more and take advantage of special offers on dental, optical and chiropody/podiatry treatments, please come along to meet Warren Vale from HSF Health Plan:

John Muir House, Haddington (Main reception)

Wednesday 20 Nov, 10.00am – 2.30pm

Penston House, Macmerry (Main reception)

Thursday 21 Nov, 10.00am – 2.30pm

As an ELC employee, The Health Cash plan offers over 30 benefits to you and your family (any partner and kids under 18 at same address covered free on your plan), including:

• Dental (money back including for some cosmetic dentistry, teeth whitening at a dentist, white fillings, crowns, veneers, check-ups, hygienist)
• Optical (money back including for designer frame glasses, varifocals, prescription sunglasses, contact lenses, sports goggles and eye laser treatment)
• Birth and Adoption Grants
• Payments if off work through injury (up to 52 weeks after 30 days)
• Practitioners (including chiropody, physiotherapy, osteopath, chiropractor, acupuncture, podiatry)
• Hospital Admissions and Specialist Private Consultations & Tests (including MRI, ultrasound, blood tests, X-Ray, ECG, vaccination)
• GP Advice Line & Virtual Doctor
• Counselling, Medical Information & Legal Helplines
• HSF Perkbox, a shopping discounts platform offering high street shopping discounts, cheap cinema tickets, discounted gym memberships and more.

For anyone who can’t attend, Warren is happy to visit your team at your office or school on a suitable day/time, just arrange directly with him:

Warren Vale

07976 638 031

warren.vale@hsf.eu.com

               

Recruitment and Selection learning

If you are the panel chair for recruitment interviews, you must have completed our council recruitment and selection training and refresh this every three years. 

If you are on an interview panel it is also recommended that you complete this learning. 

This learning is now all available online on learnPro, including how to conduct effective interviews. You can find this in the Essentials section of learnPro - ELC: Recruitment and Selection.

Extensive resources and guidance are also available in the 'Information for recruiting managers' pages on the intranet.

First Aid Training

A limited number of spaces are available on the following first aid courses running between December and February: 

• First Aid at Work - Monday 2 December to Wednesday 4 December 2024 £185.00
• Emergency First Aid at Work - Tuesday 28 January 2025 - £85.00
• First Aid at Work Revalidation - Tuesday 21 January - Wednesday 22 January 2025 - £135.00 *this course is for anyone who is near expiry or has just expired*
• Emergency First Aid at Work - Tuesday 25 February 2025 - £85.00

To book visit the Outdoor Learning Services Training Calendar

Managing anxiety

Training company Scott Bradbury provides interactive skills challenges which are designed to question, engage and inform.  

One of these skills challenges is called Managing Anxiety. November is Men’s Health Awareness month, which aims to bring awareness to all physical and mental health issues faced by men. Anxiety, if not managed carefully, can lead to an increase in irrational thinking. Everybody has irrational thoughts, but having too many can negatively affect our thinking and behaviour at work, and at home. Using an awareness strategy enables you to replace the thoughts that lead to distress, hopelessness and even anger, with much healthier, rational alternatives.

Learn more about managing anxiety 

We also have a range other digital learning resources from Scott Bradbury available at East Lothian Council. You can find these on the intranet.